February 3, 2014

A "breaking news" email from CNN says: "Authorities investigating the death of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman found more than 50 glassine-type bags containing what is believed to be heroin in his apartment, two law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation said today. Investigators also found several bottles of prescription drugs and more than 20 used syringes in a plastic cup, the sources said."

44 comments:

I was thinking the same thing this AM -- was it actually a suicide made to look like an accidental overdose? Really sad for the guy that he didn't find other options. But especially sad for his children. Hope he had insurance for them, but doubt it. Even so, would the company pay on the claim?

Hope he had insurance for them, but doubt it. Even so, would the company pay on the claim?

My understanding is that most life insurance policies have a clause eliminating coverage in the event that the decent commits suicide like intentionally overdosing on illegal drugs. It would be a question of fact whether his overdose was intentional or accidental. If the company can show that his death was most likely intentional (not sure how they would do that) they probably won’t be paying a claim.

However if his overdose were accidental, it could still be covered depending on whether (a) the policy had a clause excluding coverage for activities broad enough to cover illegal drug use (e.g. died while committing felonious activity) or (b) Hoffman disclosed in his application that he used illegal drugs. In the case of (b) it may also matter (depending on State law) how long ago the policy was issued for the company to contest it (usually within one or two years) and even then they may have to refund his premiums to his estate if they don’t pay out the claim.

As to suicide, how will you ever know? Did he even know? Could he have known the difference? For the addict, the addiction is the universe. Other options vanish when the addiction is awake. Addicts in recovery only put the addiction to sleep for a time. It is always there to be reawakened and fill up your world.

I've had addicts tell me they would rather take the drug than live. Even if they knew with certainty that the next dose would kill them, they would do it. The pleasure is worth dying for. Not sure if that's the same as suicide, though. At least, not how we traditionally think of suicide.

I'm not part of the junkie community, but I don't believe regular users put up a supply like that.

Hoffman would never have been one of the regular users at this point in his career. He was rich, successful and able to buy as much of what ever he wanted when ever he wanted it. He was immune from the rigor of mainstream, junkie life, the lack of funds to buy as much as you want and the desperate need to cop.

Actually, they are. They are consumed and obsess about the next hit, fix, drink or what have you. Maybe his initial plans were for this amount to last quite a while. But that never works - one is too many, ten isn't enough.

I thought I heard yesterday, that he was found in an apartment blocks from the one he shared with his family. Perhaps I heard wrong or this was incorrect information. Anyway, it might explain the stash. The excessive amounts explain a binge and by itself, nothing more. The well laid plans of addicts - how quickly they can spiral out of control.

50 doses. I'm not part of the junkie community, but I don't believe regular users put up a supply like that. They're not really the planning ahead type, are they?Definitely plan ahead.Buy all you can/,you never want to be without. I am surprised it was in 50 separate envelopes. I would expect that quantity to be bought in a bulk package, at a discount.

Today I heard and interview with him on NPR recorded just after "Doubt" premiered. He sounded so tired and barely smothered his impatience, beneath his articulate civility, with the interviewer and some of her inane or questions. He sidestepped her most intrusive question brilliantly, and with a dangerous undertone that I admired. He tried to describe how emotional it feels to get into a character who is disturbed or angry, how sometimes during a 10 hour shooting day, you have to wait in more or less one place ready to be called for shooting, how you have to maintain the emotional state all day, and how it wears on you. He said much more, and I realized that it could be a burden to anyone but especially to him, working on several major projects every year. Never a break. I can begin to imagine. The solace of the drug will always, always call to you.

@CrackWho is to say what made Hoffman do what he did? Human beings are rarely as simple as we think they are. Some people endure unbelievable pain and hardships while others crack and crumble under much less stress. I've known more than a few who have crumbled and I really don't know why. It's not like people are unaware that there is a problem, it's that no one can fix the problem for someone else. Hoffman ultimately made a conscious choice to go down that road so what happened wasn't an accident that happened to him. After a person gets addicted alternative options are much harder to reach but they are still there.

He tried to describe how emotional it feels to get into a character who is disturbed or angry, how sometimes during a 10 hour shooting day, you have to wait in more or less one place ready to be called for shooting, how you have to maintain the emotional state all day, and how it wears on you.

"When you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you."--Friedrich Nietzsche

An addict is focused every waking moment thinking about the next hit. The planning is arranging the availability of product. And the availability of time to use the product. For most, the means to attain the first two, Money, or trading something of value for the product.

Suicide? I doubt that. Hoping death relieves you of the chains of your addiction? More likely.

All addictions, are but a symptom of the real problem, the real demon. If addicts can find that demon and address it, the addiction can be held at bay for the rest of your life.